Electrochemical apparatus.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

CIIAUNOEY C. CLARK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF l ONE-HALF TO JAMES G. CARSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELEcTRooi-IEMICAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 706,529, dated August 12, 1902.

Application tiled September 20, 1901. Serial No. 75,728. \N1n0del) T all whom, it may concern):

Be it known that I, CHAUNCEY C. CLARK, a

citizen of the United States, residingat Phila- ,Y

delphia, in the county* of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Electrochemical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention isto construct 1o a closed apparatus for the electrolysis of chemical solutions, as theprod notion of bleach liquor by the release of chlorin fromcommon salt, the electrodes and their connections being kept at a lowftemperature bythe methods which will be pointed out in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, and in consequence of such low temperature' t-heelectrical resistance of the electrodes is so largely diminished that the life of the electrodes and zo their connections is greatly prolonged.

My invention is illustrated infthe accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each figure. i z5 Figure 1 is a vertical central section. Fig. 2 is an end View with the end cover removed.

The receptacle has anrinner copper or iron cylinder l and an outer copper `or iron cylindel` 2, leaving a space 3 between them, the 3o cylinder 1 being secured to heads, cast iron,

at each end and having tube-sheets 4,5 formed integral with outwardly-reaching Vrings 6 7. The cylinder 2 is secured to L-rings 8 9, extending outward from rings 6 7, and space 3 is putin communication with end-chambers l0 11 by openings 12 13, so that fluid-'entering chamber 10 by inlet-pipe14'will,freely iow to space 3, inclosed by cylinder 2 and surrounding cylinder 1, and pass to chamber 4o 11 and flow to outlet-pipe 15. The inlet and outlet might be oppositely arranged, if more convenient to have them so.' 17 for drainage are closed by plugs 18,19; but pipes and valves, if more desira f used instead of the plugs. Removable covers 2O 21 close chambers l() l1. From chamber 10 to chamber 1l are multiple coppertubes 22, which will preferably be secured; through tube-sheets 4 5 by the well-known expansion- 5o stuffing-box method, and these tubes permit escaping from Vcylinder 1. sheets 4 5 are openings 34 35, closed by covers l"electrodes suspended thereon.

vcylinders l 2.`

Openings f 16 ble, could be free communication from chamber 10 to chamber 1l through cylinder l and the material therein and which is subjected to electrolysis by the platinum anodes 23 and zinc cathodes 24, secured on bus-bars 25 26 by screws 55 27, and electrical conductors 23+ and 29- are in contact with the series of electrodes and pass outward to a dynamo or source of electrical energy through insulating stuliing- Vboxes' 30 31, tapered and screwed through cyl- 6o inders l 2, and insulating-packing 32 is compressed byfollowers 33 to prevent any Huid Through tube- 36 37, which Supportfbus-bars 25 26 and the 65 The covers being removable permit the insertion and removal of the bus-bars and their attachments and also the lintroduction and removal` of drainage-pipe 38having perforations 39 its 7o entire length, and a central discharge through tapered and threaded sleeve 40, screwed A,through cylinders 1 2, is connected to a valve 41, the'pipe 38 andits connections being for the withdrawal of :refuse only or for washout purposes in connection with top sleeve 42, opened and closedhby plug 43, which permits ,the introductionof a pipe or hose for the desired purposeof. cleansing.

The material tobe electrolyzed enters cyl- 8o inder 1 through pipe 43, screwed into tapered sleeve 44, which is threaded and screwed into This pipe 43 will come from any suitable` mixing apparatus (not shown) -for theproper preparation of the solution for electrolytic treatment.`

4 The solution in cylinder V1 is withdrawn by pipe r45, entering through tapered sleeve 46 at one side of the ibottom of cylinders l' 2. l

A' safety-valve 47 is seated above a tapered 9o Tand .screw-threaded sleeve 48, which enters cylinder-S11' 2.- The valve may be of any suit- `ableiiorm"and-has a spring 49, with means for its adjustment.

Legs Oulljsupport the apparatus. l The sleeves 3031 40 42 44 46 48 open communication with the interior of .cylinder 1 through'space or jacket 3 and act also as stays between cylinders 1 2, into which they are secured by a tapered screw-thread. It 10o will be seen that cylinder 1 is surrounded by space or jacket 3 upon its diametral surface and by chambers lO 11 at its ends.

The solution in cylinder l, from which bleaching material is produced or other solutions to be subjected to electrolysis, must be kept at a low temperature for the most economical and best commercial results, and the electrolysis must also be effected in a closed receptacle to prevent the escape of the liberated gases. The electrical current by which the results are accomplished generates great heat, and without neutralizing the heat the product is imperfect andy the parts conveying the current, as the electrodes 'and bus-bars, rapidly deteriorate.

To overcome the above-enumerated losses and unsatisfactory commercial results, the apparatus is constructed, as heretofore described,to surround and circulate through the electrolyte an abundance of cooling fluidsuch' as liquid air, ice-water, compressed air, or other suitable or available cooling fluid or material. The means for the production of the cooling material, such as enumerated, are of present manufacture and may be utilized as now known, and their use or the use of different ones may be varied to suit different temperatures of the seasons, the least cooling being required during the winter season.

I claim- 1. In an electrolytic apparatus, two cylinders, one surrounding the other, and au inclosed space between the cylinders, a chamber at each end of the cylinders, means of communication from each chamber to the space between the cylinders, a iluid-inlet to one chamber, a Huid-outlet from the other chamber, means of communication from chamber to chamber through the surrounded cylinder, and a series of electrodes within the said cylinder.

2. In an apparatus for electrolysis, an in closed cylinder having means for the introduction and the withdrawal of the electrolyte, a series of electrodes within the cylinder, electrical conductors therefor, means to surround the cylinder by a cooling fluid, diametrally, and at its ends, a vseries of tubes passing through the cylinder for the circulation of cooling fluid, means to introduce the cooling uid and to permit it to iow from the apparatus, and means for its flowing to the parts surrounding the cylinder diametrally, at its ends, and to the tubes therethrough, to enable a free and uninterrupted iiow of the cooling fluid about and through the electrolyte to neutralize the heat generated by the electrodes.

3. In an electrochemical apparatus, two cylinders, one within the other and au intervening space between the cylinders, a chamber at each end of the cylinders, means of communication from the chambers to the intervening space, means of communication from chamber to chamber through the inner cylinder; tube-sheets formed on the chambers, a series of electrodes within the inner cylinder, and means for their removable suspension to the tube-sheets aforesaid.

4. In an electrochemical apparatus, an interior and an exterior cylinder forming an intervening space, a series of electrodes withinthe inner cylinder, electrical connections therefor, and sleeves tapered and screwthreaded upon their exterior surface and adapted to be screwed into the two cylinders, to tie and connect them, and afford communication from the exterior of the outer cylinder to the interior of the inner cylinder through the intervening space.

5. In an electrochemical apparatus, an inner closed cylinder, an outer closed cylinder, a series of electrodes within the inner cylinder, electrical conductors therefor, and tapered and screwthreaded stufflngboxes screwed into the inner and outer cylinders and having means for the passing of the electrical conductors therethrough, and for the prevention of liquid flow outward from the cylinders.

6. In an electrochemical apparatus, an inner and an outer closed cylinder, a series of v electrodes withinthe inner cyli nder, electrical `conductors therefor, and a perforated drainpipe therefor reaching from end to end of the cylinder, and having a central outward discharge adapted to communicate with the inner cylinder only.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHAUNCEY C. CLARK.

Witnesses:

RANsoM C. WRIGHT, WILLIAM C. STOEVER.

IOC 

